ISTANBUL

Australians on Monday condemned what they described as the forcible removal of worshippers by police during protests against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Sydney.

“The recent footage of Muslims praying in the city during the protest against the appalling visit of the Israeli President, being heavy-handedly pushed and forcibly moved by police while in prayer, is shocking, deeply disturbing, and entirely unacceptable,” the Australian National Imams Council said.

In a statement shared on US social media company X, the council said police should not “interfere with religious worship or inflame an already sensitive situation.”

The council added that it “is outraged by this footage and has raised urgent and serious concerns directly with the NSW Police Commissioner and relevant ministers. The NSW Government and Premier Chris Minns must take responsibility for this conduct and ensure accountability at the highest levels.”

Police and protesters clashed as thousands of people took to the streets across Australia to protest Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit, which began Monday.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald daily, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna defended officers seen in social media footage during violent interactions with protesters.

“I absolutely think the police actions were justified tonight,” he said.

He added that nearly 6,000 people attended the protests in Sydney and that police arrested 27 people.

Herzog is in Australia on an official visit, as police, Israeli security, and snipers shadowed the Israeli president and his wife's every move since he touched down in Sydney to meet with Jewish communities in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack in December.

A UN Human Rights Council special commission of inquiry into the war in the Gaza Strip found last year that Israel was committing genocide and said comments made by Herzog following the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, were evidence of genocidal intent.

Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza in October 2023. More than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 171,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while about 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed.

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army has continued to violate it, killing 576 Palestinians and wounding 1,543 others, the ministry said.